Ask Plot Quelling the Rumours: A Complex Complex

[Fiach Dubh]

Perhaps it was the fact that the mission was becoming more challenging than initially promised, or maybe it was the reality that the Force was coming ever more into play as they progressed – but either way, Fiach’s focus became greater and her connection to the Light side deeper. In truth, as Fiach analysed her situation (which she invariably did), she realised it was the blend of team-working, puzzle-solving and above all the thrill of seeking something ancient that was pulling her in.

She nodded at Nara’s words – the fact they were facing obstacles suggested no others had been this way – which boded well for a potential find of some magnitude. In fact, anything that related to the Jedi of the past was awesome in Fiach’s book. And that was before they reached the grand hall, so large that local light could not reach the far side. Not that she was too fussed – her attention was taken by the enormous statue.

“The Determination Form,” Fiach uttered as she glanced at it. “Maybe this was a training school or perhaps it dates back to a time when that was the only style of saber use?” She drank in the view and imagined herself walking around here countless centuries ago. But a short and sharp intake of breath brought her back to the present. As impressive as the statue was, it was just a statue and unlikely to be the reason for all of the booby-traps.

So, she paid close attention to the Zeltron Jedi who drew her attention to the two exits. They weren’t so many that two groups made a lot of sense right now, so she finally ventured an opinion. “I second the decision to remain together – and left seems the logical choice.”
@Charndley @Catbert @Mr. Teatime

 

[Juniper]

Nara stepped inside, drinking in the sense of awe. She wasn't a historian of any great skill, but even she could appreciate what they were all looking at. How long had this been hidden here? How much time had passed since the last Jedi had walked these halls properly? What had they done to deserve this fate? A shiver ran through her as she looked up at the statue again.

I hope we don't end up hidden away for thousands of years. That'd be pretty... bad.

The debate drew her back from her contemplation as she heard the others come to a consensus. Nara nodded with a shrug, because it seemed as good an idea as any. "Left is fine with me. I'd rather stick together too." That way, at least, if one of them ended up slammed into a fine paste, they could take the remains back to Ajan Kloss. Always optimistic!

The left hallway stretched out into darkness, the walls closing in on the group as Nara walked carefully ahead. Constantly peeking down to check the floor for any signs of pressure pads, or ancient wires... but thankfully it seemed to be clear. No bones either, which Nara didn't realise until they were practically in the next room. That had to be a good thing, right?

The room seemed pretty empty. Ossified husks of what once might have been trees flanked the sides, along with cracked and dusty remnants of pools. Above them, a circle of metal hung from a high roof, with a couple dozen crystals embedded uniformly along it. Even in the tiny amount of light they had, it was clear that the crystals were old. Dusty. Milky, almost.

Nara was peering up at the circle when she felt something move... and heard the voice for the second time.

@Catbert @Hank Beast @Mr. Teatime @Corbeau

 

[The Storyteller]

Once all the Jedi had entered the room, the mechanisms began to work. The years of disuse and entropy meant that every movement could be held pulsing through the stone. Every switch and shift was met with a click and groan. Beneath the stone floor, old wheels turned and crumbling cogs clicked into place once more.

Back in the hallway, the door to the hall had sealed behind them. There was to be no going back until they had done.

The crystals above them started to glow. Through the murky cloudiness, dull light pulsed. It bathed the room in a sickly cornucopia of lights, giving the room a disconcerting atmosphere. The glow grew stronger, as if it was trying to force the light out and push through the dirt and decay.

Then, for one beautiful and brilliant second, they did. The light blossomed from the crystals, almost searing bright. The colours combined and bloomed together into a glorious, incredible white. For a half-second, all the Jedi there could see the room in it's full, former glory. Tranquil, crystal waters that flowed gently, calmly. Trees around them, leaves thick and green, the scent of life and fresh air thick even in the depths of this place. The thoughts and meditations of a thousand Jedi who'd lived before them.

As quickly as it came, it disappeared. They were all back in that room, a shell of it's former glory. But beneath that sickly light, something had changed. There was a presence, lingering around them. Crawling around them.

It spoke in firm, hushed tones through the Force. Right into their bodies, into their minds, into their hearts. For each, it would be different, though the tone would be the same.

Spoiler: Nara

The girl full of anger. Can you really protect anyone with that? How can you save anyone's life when you can't even control your basest emotion? What will happen, young Jedi, when you fail? What will happen when your Master looks on you with disappointment and your 'friends' shake their heads at your very mention? They know what is waiting for you, little Jedi. Are you worthy of any of this?

Spoiler: Nykoria

The passionate Knight. Try as you might, you can't help but feel. You will be drawn into the emotions all around you, Nykoria. How much of your life have you spent hiding from that? How much of your time have you wasted repressing yourself, all from one moment in your training? Do you really think you can manage? When the Dark surrounds you and the anger calls deep within you, will you bury and suppress it then? Or will you not resist?

Spoiler: K'Narr

The years hang on you like a burial shroud, Jedi. The Galaxy still lingers with the echoes of your former friends. The clones you once commanded. The padawans you taught, raised by your hand and slaughtered, while you did nothing. You lingered in your hibernations whilst the Galaxy burned and the Force cried out in need. You, who hid in the shadows through the anguish of countless Jedi, what can you say?

Spoiler: Hannibal

The young Master. So easy with your smiles, so eager to laugh and joke. How easy must it be to grow close to the Sith man. Why does he deserve this treatment, when he caused so much suffering? Why must he get a second chance when so many others don't? How can you, a Master, stand before the bones of we who were slaughtered and say that this Sith is worthy of such attention, such devotion, such mentoring? Countless younglings and padawans, beacons of the light, the future of your Order, yet you still have taken no apprentice. Why is this Sith more important than they?

Spoiler: Fiach

The diligent young Knight. Such devotion to your tasks. Such determination to be better. A shining example of the Light, standing proud. Bright. Alone. Alone in more ways than your 'friends' will ever know. You want to help the innocent and defend the week, but you are desperate to know the truth. That question that lingers within you constantly. One day, the chance will come to discover what you want to know and it will come at a cost. Can you really be sure that you'll resist? To know truly about your birth, your past... the other child? What will you do, Fiach Dubh?

The voice faded into the deafening silence, but the presence remained. It demanded answers, whether spoken or thought. Without them, getting out of that room might require something a little more creative.

Spoiler: OOC

My apologies if I've missed something out or misinterpreted something about your characters, I just went trawling through your profiles and your most recent posts for ideas. I've included K'Narr again if Hank Beast would like to continue with him in this thread. :)

@Catbert @Mr. Teatime @Hank Beast @Corbeau

 

[Nykoria Tallis]

All the other Jedi seemed to share the sentiment that splitting up was unwise, and were ok with picking the direction she chose. For Kori, it was more of a gut choice, but Hannibal and Fiach factored logic into this. Was it always as simple as they made it seem though? Just follow the left wall? Well, if it all goes sideways, I won't be the only one to blame! Still, the Zeltron was glad to have all those other Jedi with her. Even the prospect of one of them triggering some ancient contraption and endangering their lives couldn't detract from that.

That feeling was reinforced when the mechanisms rumbled to life and sealed the passage behind them. "Of course, that's how it's always supposed to happen..." she grumbled somewhat jokingly, briefly turning her head and the glowrod back at the old stone platform that blocked the way back. But then, the flash from the crystals briefly eclipsed everything, even the glowrod. It was followed by the darkness and a familiar disembodied voice. It was as if experiencing someone else's thought or emotion.

The passionate Knight. Try as you might, you can't help but feel. You will be drawn into the emotions all around you, Nykoria. How much of your life have you spent hiding from that? How much of your time have you wasted repressing yourself, all from one moment in your training? Do you really think you can manage? When the Dark surrounds you and the anger calls deep within you, will you bury and suppress it then? Or will you not resist?​

The message didn't sound like a threat, but Kori be damned if it wasn't foreboding. At least the voice made it somewhat clear where they stood. It wasn't too friendly a hostile; more like evaluating and questioning. But how the kriff does it know? Whoever that was, it couldn't have known about what happened. Or could it? The Force allowed for even stranger things. And even despite the silence, the presence awaited an answer.

You're right... I can't help but feel. Live through the emotions of not just myself, but of those around me. I saw what it can lead to... and ran away from it. Tried to stay away from people; sometimes I still do. I gave in to my fear and justified it by thinking that prevention is better than the cure. But complete isolation isn't a Jedi way. There's no running to the edge of the galaxy from the Dark. So I'll go out there... And try to remain true to myself, come what might.​

@Corbeau, @Mr. Teatime, @Hank Beast, @Charndley

 

[KNarr Foo]

K'Narr followed the group as he kept quiet in the background because he didn't know what to do but he agreed with everyone wanting to stay together "Now is probably most unwise to split up, we know little of this area and there could be many traps ahead" K'Narr said as they entered a room where a mechanism whirred to life and he heard a noise behind him.

K'Narr's instinct kicked in and he tried to grab whatever was moving behind them with the force but he was too slow and wasn't strong enough to grab it before it completely shut causing the force to snap back at him "And this what I was talking about..." K'Narr sighed clasping his wrist after the snap back from the force, the room was completely dark and he tried to grab the glowrod but that was not needed as the room began glowing for a brief couple of seconds before they were shrouded in darkness and voice rang out in K'Narr's head.

"The years hang on you like a burial shroud, Jedi. The Galaxy still lingers with the echoes of your former friends. The clones you once commanded. The Padawans you taught, raised by your hand and slaughtered, while you did nothing. You lingered in your hibernations whilst the Galaxy burned and the Force cried out in need. You, who hid in the shadows through the anguish of countless Jedi, what can you say?"

This caused a lump to form in K'Narr's throat, he knew he would be tested for how he failed during The Clone Wars, that was a dark time in his life but he wouldn't forget it K'Narr clenched his fist "I will never forget my Padawans or my fallen brethren, that was a dark part in life for all the Jedi who survived, we became to corrupted by the politics, that we forgot the base morals and ideals of what originally started the Order, I will never forgive myself for what I did when the force cried out and I will continue striving to become a better Jedi to make up for my past mistakes but I will never be able to make things right but I will continue striving to keep the knowledge of the jedi alive for as long as I am".

@Corbeau, @Catbert, @Charndley, @Mr. Teatime

 

[Fiach Dubh]

It may sound a little blasé to suggest that Fiach was getting used to Force visions, but of late she had come to realise they were not necessarily common and she possibly had more than her fair share of them.

So, as the wondrous vision that greeted them when they first entered faded and their means of escape evaporated, she wondered what kind of test they might face. Of course, this was the Force and so the fact she heard a sound that seemed to speak to her and her alone did not necessarily surprise her – and she wondered what the others might be experiencing.

But thoughts of her companions soon disappeared when she heard what the disembodied voice had to say. She sighed audibly. The teasing of knowledge being available but just out of reach was growing stronger with every vision. Was this in truth the Force warning her of her frailty? Or was it simply a continuation of the journey she was on, where doubt and the desire for the truth would be her greatest weakness and potentially her undoing.

She shook her head, involuntarily. No, there had to be another way. She was a pragmatist and certainly not a fatalist. She believed she was in control of her future – and even the Jedi taught that the future was unclear and definitely not set.

“I accept that hope and despair are two sides of the same coin and excessive aspiration of finding the answer to my birth-right could easily lead to desperation. Which is why I cannot and will not seek an answer. I cannot control what may happen to me in the future but I can dictate my actions each day. I am a Jedi first and foremost. As long as I keep that fact in the front of my mind, I shall not pay any unnecessary price.”

Fiach took another deep breath. She believed her words. Or at least, she believed she believed her words. But as with any test, facts were facts, opinions about facts were just opinions. Only time would tell if she was up to the trial.

And so, to be entirely truthful, especially to herself, she added, “At least that is my belief. I will not underestimate the challenge but face it head on and have conviction that the Force will keep me right. People will let me down and I myself may let me down, but the Force will never let me down and so I place my full trust in it.”

@Hank Beast @Mr. Teatime @Charndley @Catbert